Why Some People Check (and Recheck) Their Phones All the Time

We all have that friend: Her phone seems to be surgically attached to her hand and she constantly checks it, even when it doesn't beep. It's an annoying habit (and kind of insulting), but it may not entirely be her fault: New research has found it just may be a by-product of her personality.

For the study, researchers asked college students to answer a series of questionnaires and undergo cognitive tests on their phone use—how much time they spent on their phones for social media, how often they posted status updates, and how often they check their phones in general.

They also tested participants on their ability to delay gratification, giving them tests that allowed them to choose between receiving a smaller sum of money right away or more at a later time. In addition, the participants were asked to do tasks that assessed their impulse control and their tendency to pursue rewards.

What they discovered isn't super shocking: People who constantly check their phones aren't so great at delaying gratification. But researchers also found that once these people get started, it's harder for them to stop. The end result is an almost addictive cycle that's hard to break.

So, next time your friend constantly checks her phone when you're together, just keep this in mind: It probably has nothing to do with you.